Oof..... first we need to take a moment for Boeings Starliner..... While it could have been a good rocket and capsel to the ISS its almost dead on arrival at this point. Recently NASA announced that they were having to again push the Starliner’s launch back and the reason is bad news for the company.
In April when it is suppose to autonomously fly and dock with the ISS after the failed attempt last year the ISS is going to be very very busy. Within that month you will have SpaceX Crew 2 launch, SpaceX Crew 1 return, and the Soyuz launch and return.
There is honestly just no room at the ISS for Boeing’s test. Boeing and SpaceX share two docking terminals and SpaceX’s missions will briefly overlap leaving no spaces open. Due to this inability to test the attempt has been pushed back several weeks when there is not as much activity.
Could this cause Boeing to turn more commercial? That’s one of the life savers I could see them latching onto to recover costs. They also could try to somehow sell the NASA launches they have to SpaceX as a possible monetary saver.... nonetheless it’s a hard harsh blow for Boeing to be so far behind SpaceX at this point.
